Enclosed containers



J. S. DEMPSTER ENCLOSED CONTAINERS Dec. v4, 1956 Filed July 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iuv 4 .E Il.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1956 J. s. DEMPs'rER 2,772,911

ENcLosED CONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENCLOSED CONTAINERS John Saylor Dempster, Knoxville, Tenn., assigner to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application July 28, 1952, Serial No. 301,310

4 Claims. (Cl. 294-569) This invention relates to improvements in Enclosed Containers, and more particularly to containers suitable for use with transporting and dumping vehicles such as those disclosed in several United States patents granted to George R. Dempster, as represented by No. 2,281,183, February 28, 1942, and No. 2,369,722, granted February 20, 1945.

Containers suitable for use with such transporting and dumping vehicles are often provided with enclosed tops using hood type closures over the containers, either rounded or rectangular, or of other shape, as have been manufactured heretofore for use with such vehicles. It has been the practice to make s uch enclosed containers with a top portion welded or otherwise rigidly Xed permanently to the bottom portion thereof and having a door in the top, side or end, for access thereto. Such containers often are made of very large capacity, such as or 12 cubic yards. Because of the size thereof relative to the nited States Patent C) f weight, diculty has been encountered in the shipment of such containers, resulting frequently in extra shipment charges in proportion to the weight thereof, which penalizes the purchaser of the containers, who is compelled to pay the freight therefor. This is especially true when these are shipped by boat, but it is also true when shipped by rail or truck. Nevertheless, no adequate solution to the problem has been found heretofore.

One object of this invention is to overcome the foregoing objections of shipment and to provide for a more compact nesting of the containers, reducing the overall size thereof during transportation and thereby reducing appreciably the cost of shipment where it is based on size.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of an enclosed container to enable this to be collapsed in nested relation during shipment and yet which may be reassembled at the point of destination or use with little trouble and loss of time in assembling the container in usable condition, while providing a structure which is sturdy and rigid in use for containing the many types of materials handled therein.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a detachable connection between the top and bottom sec tions of an enclosed container which permits the top section to be inverted and nested into the bottom section during transportation, thereby reducing the space required for shipment. At the same time, the top and bottom sections may be reassembled in superposed relation and secured rigidly and steadly in a unitary structure.

These objects may be accomplished according to one embodiment of the invention by providing a container with a bottom section adapted to form the body of the container, and a top section provided with an opening, with or Without a`closure or door therefor, to gain access into the container. The top section, in use, is secured rigidly but detachably upon the bottom section capable of. being detached and removed therefrom, whereby the topV section may be nested in the bottom section durlng transportation, thus reducing appreciably the overall cubage of the container. Detachable fasteners are pro- `2,7 72 ,91 l Patented Dec. 4, 1956 vided within the respective sections, with bracing means along the adjacent edges thereof whereby a sturdy and rigid structure is provided, without weakening, by reason of the separability of the respective sections.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig, 1 is a front elevation of the container, with the sections assembled in superposed relation for use;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section therethrough at the front edge on the line 3- 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view at the end edge on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the sections detached and nested for transportation;

Fig. 6 is a similar view from the opposite side;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof partly in section;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section through the rear side on the line 8 8 in Fig'. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, with the parts superposed in their assembled relation.

Referring to Figs. l to 4, and 9, the enclosed container is shown as formed of top and bottom sections, generally designated respectively at 1 and 2, which sections normally are in superposed relation during use of the container and will be first described in this relation. The shape and size thereof may be varied as desired. The top section 1 may be rectangular in cross-section, as illustrated, or of other shape, such as curved, pyramid, etc., either with or without doors for access thereto.

In the form shown `the top section 1 is provided with an enclosed top generally designatedat 3, and with front and rear walls 4 and 5, respectively, and end walls 6. These several walls are rigidly joined together as by welding or otherwise, forming an enclosed structure formed substantially in one integral piece. An access door is shown at 7 in each end wall 6 for gaining admittance to the interior of the container.

The bottom section 2 is formed with closed front and back walls 8 and 9, respectively, and end Walls 10, all of which are joined rigidly together as by welding or otherwise to form a substantially integral unit or piece. The bottom of the container is closed by a drop bottom door generally indicated at 11, which ishinged to the bottom section 2 at 12 along the lower edge of the front wall 8. The door 11 is provided also with pins 13 xed thereto adapted to yreceive an end connection on a chain or other flexible device connected with the transporting vehicle for lifting the container. f

The upper edge of the front wall 8 of the bottom section is turned inward and forms a rim 14 adapted to cooperate with a flange 15 formed on or secured rigidly to the front wall of the top section 1. In the form illustrated, the flange 15 is formed on an angle bar generally designated at 16 welded to the front wall-4 of the top section 1. Bolts 17 extend through the flanges 14 and 1S at intervals along the length of the container for securing these sections detachably together.

Each end of the enclosed container is formed substantially in the same manner described above With respect to the front side, 4as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Each end wall 10 is shown as having an inturned rim-18 eX- tending along the `width of the container upon which is seated a llangel 19, shown as formed on an angle bar 20, welded to the end wall 6 of the section 1. These parts are detachably connected together by bolts `21 extending therethrough at spaced intervals along the width of the container.

It will be apparent from Figs. l and 2 that the front and'end Walls ofthe top section 1 are set inward, out of vertical alignment with the corresponding parts of the bottomsection 2, while'the rear walls 5 and 9 ofV the in Ysrksl alignment with cash. athen The sections are connection between the latter is illustrated in Fig. 9, which type of connection may be used between any or all Q f' the-,other Sides o ftheY sections thatare' in vertical alignment with each other.

Referring to"Figs. 2 and 9, these show the rear wall 9 of the bottom section 2, as having an anglebar 2,2, welded thereto, with outturned flange 23. In like manner the rear wall 4 of the top section 1 also has anV angle bar 24 welded thereto, with an outturned flange 25 seated upon the llangeV 2,3, These parts are secured together detachably by bolts 26 extending therethrough at spaced intervalsalong the length ofthe rear walls of the sections.

The parts are assembled for use in the relation shown Figs, l to 4, and 9, with the top section superposed on the bottom section and detachably secured thereto by the bolts1-7`, 2.1 and 26. rIIhese hold the sections rigidlyv in proper relation to eachother, enabling the container to be usedin the usual manner of such enclosed containers for handling various materials, as customarily employed in connection therewith, and to be transported and dumped in the manner previouslyl described.v

When the containers are manufactured, however, these may be collapsed into nested relation, as shown in Figs. 5 to, 8. This may be accomplished by removing the detachable fasteners 17, 21 and 26, from the engaged portions of the containers, or the rims formed therebetween, as illustrated at 14-15, 18.-19, and 23-25. This will permit the top section 1 to be inverted and nested into the bottom section 2, as shown in Figs. 5 to. 8, thereby reducing the cubage of the container approxim'ately one half for transportation. The top section 1 being invertedwill be supported by the surrounding rims thereon, which are seated upon the upper edges or rims of the bottom section 2, as will be apparent from the drawings. These parts usually are constructed of steel, whereby the top section 1 is sufficiently heavy to be maintained in place by gravity during transportation. If de-V sired, however, the parts may be fastenedV together by suitablefastenings such as wire clips and the like, engaging the holes in the respective rims thereof, or bands may be used to enclose thenested container sections.

WhenV the containers reach their destinations,l the top sections may be easily lifted out of the bottomV sections andinverted ont'othe'latter. The partsvmaybe secured rigidly by vinserting the fasteners 17, 21 and 2 6, which will s'ecure these rigidly together. Little time will be required for this'asseinbling of'parts at the point of use, andyet a materialy saving inthe cost of transportation willhave'been effected by reason of the collapsing of the sections, as described.

A bail isv shown at 27,"connected' with lthe frontwall 8- of the bottom sectionZ, usually beingv provided to facilitate the handling of the, container uponia vehicle of the type described above. While the bail is shown as welded or otherwise rigidly fastened to the bottomV section, it may be hinged thereto if 'desiredV for collapsing into a recess in the front wall, as described and illustrated infthe patent of George R. Dempster, No. 2,464,441, March l5; 1949.

I have illustrated and described one embodiment ofrtliis invention, it is recognizedi that variations andi changes may be made therein WithoutA departing from the invention as set forth inthe claims.

liclaim:n Y' i l. Anrenclosedy container comprisingtop and bottom sections, each having surrounding sidewalls with enclosed topand ,bottom portions thereon, respectively, the front and end wallsv of the bottom section, havinginturned flanges thereon forming rims along the upper edges5of Seid-.side wells., a bail conrlsstedwithrthe.bottom Section Off the' @weier at the-'front l theteofand extending.

therefrom Y, for lifting and supporting the; container, an

anglebar fixed rigidly tothe upper edgeofithe rearside.

wall.. Qt the bottoni section with an outturned flans@ thereon, angle bars secured rigidly to the lower edges of the side walls of the top section and having outturned anges seated upon the flanges on the bottom section, detachable fasteners extending through said flanges and detachably connecting the sections togethervv for removal of the top section and permitting inversion thereof into nested relation within the. bottom section, said bottom section including a drop bottom door hinged thereto and having means thereon for detachable engagement by a lifting vehicle.

2. An enclosed container comprising top and bottom sections, each having front and back sid'e walls and end walls, the bottom. section` having av drop bottom door hinged thereto adjacentV the lower edge of `the front wall, means connected with the front wall of the bottom section for lifting and suspending the container, the bottom section having an int-urned flange on 'the upper edges ofthe front wall arranged for clearness of. access to the lifting means connected with said front wall, and said bottom section having an outturned flange on the upper edge of the back; wall, the topv section having out-turned flanges onthe lowerV edges of the front and back walls thereof seated on the flanges of the bottom section, and means detachably Connecting saidflanges together for removalV ofthe top; `section and inversion thereof into nested relation within thebott-om section.l

3. An enclosedV container comprising top and bottom sections, each having. frontY and back `side walls and end walls, the top sectionhaving an opening therein through which material may be inserted into `the container, the bottom section having adrop bottom material discharge doorl hinged 'theretoadjacentthe; lower edge of the front wall, a bail connected with the front wall of thev bottom section and extending, upwardly therefrom for lifting and suspendingf thel container, the bottom section having inturned flanges on the upper edgesof the front and` end walls and an outturnedilangeon the upper edge of the bach wall, 'the top section having out-turned flanges on the loweredges of' the front, backf and'end` walls thereof seated onthe flanges of the-bottom section, and means detachablyy connecting said-*flanges together for removal of the top-section andinversion thereof intonested relation within the bottom section, thej back walls of the top andbottom sections being invertical alignment with-each other rwhen the top section is seated on the bottom section and. the other walls. ofvsaid topy section being inwardly offset out. of vertical alignment withthe corresponding walls ofthe bottomisection, whereby the` front-wall of the .top section isoiiset from the front wall of the bottom section toperrnitL engagementof. the bailffor lifting the container.y

4. Anenclosed container. comprising/top andfbottom sections, each having front andbach side wallsandend walls, the top` sectionhaving anropening therein through which material may be inSertedjintothe container, the bottom sectionhaving adropfbottom material discharge door hinged thereto. adjacent the vlower edgeofthe front wall, a bail connected withtheV front wall of the bottom section and extendingupwardly. therefrom for lifting and suspending` the4 container, the, bottom section having flanges onthe wallsat theupper, edges thereof,vthe top section having `flanges lonftheloweredges of `the. walls thereof seatedy onthe flanges. on thewalls of, the bottom section, thfflange ontheupper. edgejofthe frontwall--of 'the ybottom section being;turnedinwardly andthe flange on the lower'edge-of the. front ..wallof the-.top section being turned outwardlywhereby thefront wall of the top section is laterally offsety from v the; front; wallV of. said bottom ysection to permit;the.,insertion.of-lifting means throughV said Y bail, and means, connecting.; said` 4flanges together for removaljof-thefrtop sectionand-inversionthereof into nested'relationwith'n the bottom-section;

(References` onfollowing. page) References Cited in the le of this patent 2,300,259 UNITED STATES PATENTS 23051148 32,964 Dave July 30, 1861 1,073,871 Sillman Sept. 23, 1913 219,249 1,244,600 Hadgief Oct. 30, 1917 273,350

6 Kueppers Oct. 27, 1942 Dempster Dec. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 24, 1924 Grea-t Britain July 7, 1927 

